August Arts: Great Art and Great Food
By Michelle “Mike” Ochonicky, Healthy Planet Arts Editor
Image: Album Quilt, c. 1848, St. Louis Art Museum, “Picturing Independence”
I travel a lot and, when I travel, visits to art museums are always on my itinerary. Viewing art can work up an appetite—not only for fine art, but for good food as well! It is disappointing to cut a museum visit short in order to search for a nearby restaurant.
Over the years, I’ve experienced some truly fine dining in museum cafes and restaurants. Selections are often quite wonderful. Generally, prices are reasonable for a memorable meal or snack.
Lunch at National Museum for Women in the Arts (Washington, D.C.), dinner in the Louvre (Paris), warm soup at Michael J. Kohler Art Museum (Sheboygan, WI), a fancy coffee at the Nelson-Adkins (Kansas City, MO), a glass of wine at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (Bentonville, AR), my list goes on and on! A little break allows the eyes to rest, a pause to discuss the art that’s just been viewed, a chance to reenergize, ready to view more. Rather than racing to check off bucket-list items, make your ARTful visit a meaningful event, much more memorable to slow down, to savor. With children in tow, the visit is much nicer for everyone when a special snack or treat breaks up time spent inside a museum.
If your ARTful experience plans lie closer to home, check out the dining options within St. Louis’ great art institutions: perhaps a pre-show beverage at Powell Hall before a symphony performance; a light snack before a play at the Loretto-Hilton, an elegant dinner at Panorama in the Art Museum. SLAM’s snack bar offers some creative delicacies and coffees, too. (www.slam.org) The Contemporary Art Museum (3750 Washington) just introduced local St. Louis favs on their menu, from Winslow’s Table, Goshen coffee, Big Heart Teas, frozen treats from Poptimism and Ted Drewes. (www.camstl.org). CAM’s current exhibitions remain through August 9. A respite at Sassafras Restaurant or Bellwether Café, both at Missouri Botanical Garden provides world-class garden views. ( www.mobot.org )
Marking its 50th anniversary, Laumeier Sculpture Park provides outdoor sculptures and plenty of room to experience them (great for active youngsters, too!). On August 22, from 10 a.m.-noon, a special Family Wheel Throwing allows one child and adult to learn basic skills and create a piece of wheel-thrown pottery. Spots will fill, so register at www.laumeiersculpturepark.org
Parks and plazas throughout the region (Missouri AND Illinois) host Two Gentlemen from Verona, August 4-September 6. Shakespeare’s original rom-com tells of best friends Valentine and Proteus, until they fall in love with the same woman and chaos follows. Find a free performance near you: www.stlshakes.org
Did you grow up with the Brady Bunch on television? Magic Smoking Monkey Theatre brings those memories back, with laughs, in Marcia! Marcia! Marcia! A Brady Bunch Parody.
Catch it at the Touhill, only through August 3. www.stlshakespeare.org
Boost those nostalgic feelings, or perhaps introduce a new generation to the fun, with The Addams Family Young, August 7-9. This delightful version, presented by COCA, 6880 Washington, promises music, mischief and mayhem for all ages. Between the 2 and 5 p.m. shows on August 8, wear a Halloween costume for Summerween, with trick-or-treating, snacks, crafts and more. This community event is free but requires reservations (kpearson@cocastl.org). www.cocastl.org
What better way to celebrate summer than with Meet Me in St. Louis, at the Muny in Forest Park, August 6-13?!! Get ready for laughs when Something Rotten follows, August 17-23. The 2026 season closes with Lionel Richie in concert, August 29. Fabulous!! www.muny.org
Union Avenue Opera presents Samson et Dalila, August 14-15, 21-22. “Desire is dangerous; power is intoxicating” defines the performance of love, power and betrayal, all in the cool comfort of historic Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 N. Union. Performances at 8 p.m., with 3 p.m. Sunday matinee. www.unionavenueopera.org
Bee Intrigued is the exhibit on view at Green Door Art Gallery, 21 N. Gore, through August 19. Meet the eight exhibiting artists on August 5:30-8 p.m. www.greendoorartgallery.com
Ancient Splendor remains on view at St. Louis Art Museum through August 16 when most of the works return to Italy (so don’t miss it!!). Celebrate America’s semiquincentennial with historic American works in Picturing Independence, through January 24. Check out Aymara Weavings: The Indigenous Andes through September 13 and Visions of Antiquity through October 18. SLAM is the place to spend a hot summer day savoring ART! www.slam.org